When Patrick Mahomes speaks, Chiefs fans listen. Mahomes has achieved “living legend” status in Kansas City, as he has transformed the Chiefs from a perennial NFL also-ran into a perennial juggernaut, a team threatening to win a third Super Bowl in as many years this coming season.

Mahomes and the Chiefs are focused on improving offensively in 2024 after a “down year” in 2023. Second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice had been considered a key cog in the Chiefs’ attack after starring as a rookie, but his slow-gestating legal troubles could see him miss significant time this season. Nevertheless, Mahomes is acting as if he’s going to count on Rice even more in 2024, despite that uncertainty around the former Southern Methodist star.

Mahomes: Rice is getting even better

While speaking to reporters on Friday, Mahomes said that he sees a more “explosive” Rice compared to the receiver’s rookie year — in which he racked up a combined 1,200 receiving yards between the regular season and the playoffs. Mahomes firmly believes Rice is getting “better and better,” helped no doubt by showing up to training camp this week in better shape than a year ago.

Still, looming over Rice is the prospect of a lengthy suspension, stemming from a high-speed hit-and-run incident in Dallas back in March. The NFL has been weighing whether to suspend Rice under its personal conduct policy, but the process has been slow-moving with Rice facing civil litigation at the moment, rather than criminal.

As such, Rice’s suspension could feasibly be pushed back into 2025, giving Mahomes another year to strengthen his connection with one of his favorite targets. If training camp footage is anything to go by, it’s so far, so good for Rice entering year two.